HSC SOR II

HSC Judaism
Jewish Marriage
Principal Beliefs in Jewish Marriage
Principal belief Aspect of Jewish marriage How does this aspect express the Sacred text quote
principal belief

Belief in one God - The complete circle of the ring - Provides couple with a way to - Gen 2:24
symbolises hope for an eternal marriage experience holiness, as it is seen as a - DT 6:4
sacred union
- Expresses monotheistic belief in the
external God

Attributes of God - Hafakot: circling of the groom seven - Creation: circle 7 times as this is - Genesis 1:26
times reflects seven days of creation and symbolic of the 7 days of creation → - Gen 21:33
expresses God as the creator belief in divine creation
- ritual varies across variants (dominant in - Creation: belief in creation is being
orthodox and missing in most reform) replicated through creation of a new
- Sheva Brachot: rabbi or family members partnership → begins period of Nissuin
recite seven blessings over a cup of wine (coming together)

Divinely-inspired - Yichud room - signifies consummation of - Expresses importance of belief in - Sanhedrin 56

Moral Law marriage, following the commandment Jewish biblical history - MICAH 6:8
‘to be faithful and multiply’ - For the guest's marriage is also a sign - Gen 1:28
- Seudus Mitsvah - The wedding feast is of their commitment to support them
commanded and is obligatory. Follows and give commitment
commandment to make joy for the bride
and groom

Idea of covenant - Chuppah: ‘canopy’- decorated piece of - Expression of the covenant was - LEVITICUS 26:12
cloth under which the couple stand made with Abraham and the one true - Gen
during the ceremony. God
- Breaking of glass: reminder of
 destruction of the Temple - so marriage
will have good and bad times
- Kut

Fiddler on the Roof - Jewish Marriage

- Veiling of the bride
- Canopy
- Bride and groom drink from a cup
- Ring
- Bride and groom drink from the cup again
- The groom breaks the glass as a reminder of the destruction of the temple

Significance of Jewish Marriage for individual and community

Individual (s) Community

- New identity of husband and wife, entering a relationship with spouse - Home is the basic unit of the Jewish community, marriage strengthens
and God (Gen 2:24) and increases Jewish people
- Personal Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) as all previous sins are - New voices added to the community, as married status allows to
forgiven through marriage contribute and influence the community
- Obeying mitzvot - ‘be fruitful and multiply’ (Gen 1:28) - Jewish marriage is a public commitment to preserve and fulfil the
- New rights and responsibilities are set through marriage. Husbands and covenant
wives must ‘honour’ each other (Mishneh Torah 15:20) - Jewish marriage connects the community to Jewish history
- Relationships with spouses’ parents must be the same as with own - Jewish marriage involves the entire community and multiple
parents generations, e.g. ‘Mozal tov!’ - shows how the community is engaged by
- Experiencing marriage rituals connects individuals to Jewish history, the wishing the couple blessings and congratulations
Covenant and beliefs

Jewish Environmental Ethics

Ethical Teaching Description Sacred Text Reference Relevant Implication on lives of Modern Example
 Environmental Issues Adherents (organisations
described in Atomi
video)
L'ovolah ul'shomrah God appointed humanity as “ God put him (humanity) - Fossil Fuels Guides adherents to care - The coalition on
(To Serve and Protect) stewards of his into the Garden of Eden to - Waste management for nature as well as utilise the
creation to ‘till and tend’ to till it and keep it.” - Pollution the resources are given by - environment and
his land. This means they Genesis 2:15 - Overconsumption nature, for example, using Jewish life
have to care for the land in “... the seventh day is a - Loss of biodiversity certain trees and other - (COEJL)
order to uphold a kinship Sabbath to the Lord, your materials for the - - Formed in 1993
with the rest of creation. God, you shall perform no construction of homes - - Activism and
labour... on the land that - education
the Lord, your God, is programs
giving you.” - - Strengthen
Deuteronomy 5:14-16 - humanity’s
- stewardship
- (renewable energy)
-

Bal Tashchit While this was originally ‘When you lay siege to a - Overconsumption Adherents are encouraged B’nai B’rith Environmental
(Do Not Destroy) linked to the forbidden city - Waste Management and taught to apply Group
destruction of fruit trees, it for a long time, fighting - Pollution sustainable practices in - Established in
is now extended by the against it to capture it, do - Deforestation their Australia in 1997
field of environmental not destroy its trees by - Fossil Fuels daily lives. Adherents are - Tree-planting
ethics to include all waste putting an axe to them, encouraged to be mindful programs
of the earth’s resources by because you can eat their of - Environmental
humanity fruit. Do not cut them down. their consumption and education in Jewish
Are the trees people that practices such as recycling schools
you should besiege them?’ and composting are
Dt 20:19 promoted.
‘One who covers an oil
lamp
[causing the flame to burn
inefficiently] or uncovers a
kerosene lamp [allowing
the
fuel to evaporate faster]
violates the prohibition of
Bal Tashchit...’
Shabbat 67b:14 (Talmud)

Tikkun Olam Many adherents consider it “See to it that you do not - Climate change Jews must work towards The Noah Project:
(Repair the World) a cornerstone of their spoil and destroy My - Deforestation making the world better - UK-based org.
Jewish identity, a key World; - Pollution than they found it. - awareness of
reason they're committed to for if you do, there will be - Loss of biodiversity Continuing God’s work is environmental
making no an issues through
the world a better place. one else to repair it.” expression of fulfilling the community
Jews must repair the world Midrash Kohelet Rabbah I covenant. education and
physically and socially. (Talmud) practical action
They must continue the Genesis 1 and 2
work God
began at Creation

Tza'ar ba'ale hayyim Animals have to be treated “ A righteous man has - Animal cruelty - Not a high priority Jewish Initiative for Animals
(Right Treatment of Animals) with respect and used regard for his animals.” - Animal abuse of Orthodox Jews, - produce educational
wisely - Proverbs 12:10 - Animal testing Conservative and resources about
as they are part of God’s - Extinction Progressive Jews how Jewish values
creation - Endangerment more involved in interact with
- Poaching animal rights treatment animals
discussions - Expert consultation
- Only eating for industries that
Kosher food. deal with animals
- The slaughter of
animals is to be
done in a way that
minimises pain and
suffering.
- Revival of the
celebration of Rosh
Hashanah
LaBehemah - The
Jewish New Year
for Animals

In the seventh year of “But in the seventh year - Erosion Jewish agriculture workers The Jewish National Fund
Shemitah agriculture, the land is left shall be a sabbath of rest - Soil Degradation must give the land a ‘break’ - Begun by the zionist
(The Sabbatical Year) to lie fallow (uncultivated), unto the land, a sabbath for once every seven years. movement in 1901
and all agricultural activity the Lord: This reminds them of God’s - Established in Israel in
is thou shalt neither sow thy creation of the universe in 1948
forbidden so the land can field nor prune thy seven days, and that - rehabilitated the land of
regenerate. Crops are vineyard.” Leviticus 25:4 creation is a gift for them Israel by replenishing the
allowed to be taken by the soil and planting close
general public. Throughout the land you to 1⁄4 of a billion trees over
hold as a possession, you the past century
must provide for the
 redemption of the land.”
Leviticus 25:24

HSC Christianity
Review of Preliminary Christianity
Origins Principal Beliefs Ethical Teachings Sacred Text Personal Devotion

- Jesus - Holy Trinity - Jesus’ commandment The Holy Bible Personal Prayer
- Peter - Salvation of love - Formal Prayer
- Paul of Tarsus - Humanity and Divinity - Beatitudes - Informal/Private Prayer
- Creation Story of Christ - 10 Commandments - Public worship
- Revelation - Treat others how you
- Death and wish to be treated
Resurrection of Christ -

Contributions of Paul of Tarsus

Development Expression

- Council of Jerusalem → Circumcision is no longer needed. Baptism instead - Receiving Baptism → Paul helps us understand baptism through his letters

Contributions and Impacts of Paul of Tarsus on Christianity

Contribution Explanation Scripture reference/s

Development
Missionary work / Establishing Christian - Paul travelled extensively throughout Asia - Phil 1:1; 1 Cor 16: 1, 1; Thess 3: 2
communities Minor and Europe, spreading the ‘Good - Phil 1: 1; 1 Tim; 2 Tim; Acts
News’ about Jesus Christ - proclaiming
Jesus as the Messiah and saviour of ALL
humanity (not just the Jews!)
- His Jewish background, education, Roman
citizenship, ability to speak Greek, and
knowledge of various cultures enabled him to
evangelise to the pagans and debate against
Jewish leaders effectively.
- He set up Christian communities in ports
through which many travellers passed and
was therefore able to reach many people.
- After setting up the community, he
established local leaders to continue
evangelising, emphasising the Church's unity
as the body of Christ.
- Communities remained independent but
unified as the ‘Body of Christ.’
- Involved in the establishment of various
offices in the church (hierarchy) > deacons,
deaconesses and bishops, which
maintained unity

Authorship of letters - The first significant Christian writer

- 13 letters are generally attributed to the
authorship of Paul of Tarsus, although there
is a discussion about this (1/4 of the New
Testament)
- These are letters to the early Christian
communities and leaders to explain, praise,
encourage, admonish, teach and plan
- These epistles guided the early Church for
whom they were written but have also
continued to show the Church since many of
 the messages have universal application
- Maintained unity of believers (Body of Christ)

Independence of Christianity as a religious - The council (held in around 50AD) was

tradition (includes the Council of Jerusalem) called to debate whether or not male gentiles
converting to Christianity required
circumcision (according to the Abrahamic
covenant)
- Up until this time, most Christians were
Jewish Christians, and even Gentiles
converting to Christianity needed to become
Jewish first
- Council concluded that Gentile converts to
Christianity were not required to keep most
aspects of the Mosaic Law (although they
retained some, such as the prohibition on
eating meat containing blood, idolatry, etc.)
- Caused a rapid expansion of the Christian
community and an increased emphasis on
Baptism as the rite of initiation

Expression
Christian theology (understanding and - Paul’s epistles form a substantial part of the - Acts 17: 16 – 34
interpreting the Principal Beliefs of Christianity) sacred text of Christianity, and they are a - 2 Cor 5: 21
principal source of Christian beliefs - Eph 2: 8 – 9
- Beliefs presented by Paul - Rom 12: 4
➔ Christ as the new Adam - Rom 8: 20
➔ One God and Jesus as the Son of
God (fully divine and human) and
awaited Messiah ) – Christology
➔ Salvation for ALL, made possible
through the death and resurrection of
Jesus – Eschatology
➔ Justification through faith ()
➔ Nature of God and the Trinity
➔ The Church as the body of Christ
united by belief and guided by the
Holy Spirit
 ➔ Original Sin
- Beliefs are the central tenets of faith, and
Paul was significant in shaping Christianity
and hence its expression

Christian ethics (understanding and interpreting - The nature of the human dilemma, guilt and - 1 Cor 6: 9
the ethical teachings of Christianity) bondage which is resolved in a new - Gal 5: 14
existence in Christ - 1 Cor 13
- Call to freedom and responsibility - Acts 4: 32 – 35
➔ Outlined the ethical demands of - 1 Cor 6: 19
being a Christian; highlighted
relationships with others as
underpinning ethical behaviour
- Emphasis on love (‘primacy of love’)
➔ ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’
➔ ‘Love is patient; love is kind.’
- Emphasis on charity
➔ ‘No one claimed that any of their
possessions was their own, but they
shared everything they had’
➔ Emphasised that the church (the
ekklesia) was the body of Christ, and
each member needed to look after
the other members
- The physical body is the temple of the Holy
Spirit

Christian practices (understanding and - Hellenised Christianity and evangelised the - 2 Cor 16
interpreting Personal Devotion to Christianity, Gentiles – brought about the change from a - 1 Cor 11: 23 – 26
including Eucharist, Prayer, Baptism, and Jewish sect to its own independent religion - 1 Cor 11: 27 – 29
Reconciliation) with unique practices (not just on top of
Jewish ones)
- Christianity emerged as a dispersed
(geographically) but unified Religious
tradition
- Still retained the rich Jewish history
- Paul emphasised:
➔ Baptism – immersion in water
symbolising death in Jesus and
coming out as resurrection (making
 all things new)
➔ Regular gatherings in remembrance
of Jesus’ resurrection (became
Sunday worship)
➔ Breaking of bread – a communal
meal called ‘the Lord’s Supper’
including
➔ bread and wine in commemoration of
the death of Jesus

Paul of Tarsus Impact - Atomi

Considering how Paul’s contributions affect the lives of adherents

1. Impact on theology
● The ideas in Paul's epistles sowed the seeds for developments in Christian ways of thinking
● Paul influenced St. Augustine’s theology on:
- The Gospel as a gift from God’s grace
- Predestination and God’s will
- Original sin
● Paul’s initial writings provided a foundation for Augustine and other early theologians to advance and further explain what Paul meant by these beliefs
● Paul influenced Swiss theologian Karl Barth’s Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans (1916)
- Attempt to address disillusionment with theology in the context of WWI - people were questioning the role of God amidst the horrors of war
- Barth emphasised the saving grace of God and humanity’s inability to know God outside of God’s revelation in Christ
- Paul’s ideas were re-established as relevant in a contemporary context
★ Through Paul’s contributions in his writings, he laid the foundations for Christian theologians to continually expand on his ideas and use them to develop
Christian thinking. As such, through his impact on theology, Paul’s initial establishment of Christian beliefs can endure through time.

2. Impact on ethics
● Paul established a large portion of the moral guidelines that influence the lives of Christians and those in the Western world
● When Paul established Christian communities, he gave them a strict ethical framework, which distinguished them from Jewish communities
● Paul established the Christian moral emphasis on Celibacy
 1) Established moral hierarchy within Christianity
- Entirely celibate top teir (clergy)
- Lap people celibate until marriage
2) Distinguished early Christianity from Judaism
- Jews did not promote celibacy
- Genesis 1:28
- Paul therefore established Christianity’s separate ethical teachings
● Paul emphasised obedience to secular laws and gave them moral significance
- Paul’s teachings about the value of secular law was used to support the doctrine of the Divine Right of Kings (royal power comes from God, rulers
have divine authority)
- Therefore, Paul’s ethical standards have had an impact throughout history, beyond their immediate context
★ The ethical teachings Paul established when contributing to the development of Christianity have impacted the lives of Christians well beyond Paul’s context,
his guidelines have been used as benchmarks for ethical living, even in secular society

3. Impact on the establishment of Christianity

● Through Paul’s contribution, he solidified the presence of Christianity in the Western world and enabled the development of a new religious tradition
- Paul eliminated Jewish law for Christians
→ Eg. no longer had to practice circumcision or eat Kosher diets
- Without Jewish law, Christianity had more freedom to develop into its tradition
● Due to Paul’s immediate impact in engineering Christianity as a separate religious tradition, his legacy survives in the way Christianity operates today
● “[Paul’s work is] as profound as it is pervasive”
- Paul’s contribution was profound as it enabled something so significant as the establishment of a new religion
- Paul’s contribution is pervasive as it continues to influence the lives of Christians today
★ Through Paul’s extensive contribution to establishing communities of Christain believers, he had a long-lasting impact on believers by establishing
Christianity as a distinct living religious tradition.

Principal Beliefs in Christianity

1. The Nature of God and the Trinity - Trinitarian Formula
2. The Divinity and Humanity of Jesus
3. The death and resurrection - Submerssion, Immersion
4. Salvation (Christians receive salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus) - Baptism (Freed from sin)
5. Revelation (How has God revealed himself?) - Reading scriptures
Baptism - Atomi

Overview of Baptism
★ Describe ONE significant practice

● Sacrament - a compulsory rite of passage

● Initiation into the beliefs and practices of the Christian community
➔ Anglicans + Catholics - done as an infant
➔ Baptists and Pentecostals - adult baptism
● Usually occurs in a Church
● Use of water is key (taken from Bible)

Core Belief 1: Salvation (sounds like ‘save’)

● Through Christ, humans can be rid of original sin and the sin of their actions
➔ Can be achieved through Baptism
● Use of water = symbolic for washing away sins
● “Be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ so your sins will be forgiven” - Acts 2:38
● Significance for Individual:
- Become closer with God
- Achieved Salvation necessary
● Significance for Community:
- Individual is welcomed into the community and united with them

Core Belief 2: Death and Resurrection of Jesus

● Jesus sacrificed himself by dying on the cross and rose again - Expression of belief in Baptism
● “For when you were baptised, you were buried with Christ through your faith in the active power of God eho raised him from death - Colossian 2:12
➔ Jesus’ death and resurrection allows adherents to acheive salvation
➔ The readings focus on Jesus’ death and resurrection to show how adherents how they can achieve salvation and develop a better understanding of
their faith
● Significance for Individual:
- Understanding of Jesus’ role in dying for sins - stronger connection with faith
 ● Significance for Community:
- United belief of death and resurrection

Core Belief 3: Holy Trinity

● One God three parts:
- Father
- Son
- Holy Spirit
➔ “I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit
● “Wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptise them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit - Matthew 28:19
● Catholic baptism - sign of the cross
● Orthodox baptism - immersed in water 3 times
● Expression is common to all denominations because the Trinity is a fundamental belief
● Significance for Individual:
- Connect with all parts of Trinity
● Significance for Community:
- United in understanding of Trinity

SUMMARY
● Salvation, Death and Resurrection, The Holy Trinity
- Expression in baptism
● Significance for:
- Individual - Closer to God
- Community - Closer to each other